(From The Daily Express)

Tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra has put Manchester City’s entire squad up for sale in the latest twist to his bizarre behaviour.

Thai billionaire Shinawatra, who is already set to sack manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, is apparently so disgusted with the team’s performances in the second half of the season that he wants a massive clear-out, including young stars such as Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and Joe Hart.

The news of the impending fire sale throws City even deeper into turmoil and will further antagonise fans, who staged a mass demonstration against Shinawatra last week

The news of the impending fire sale throws City even deeper into turmoil and will further antagonise fans, who staged a mass demonstration against Shinawatra last week.

They are threatening to withhold money for season tickets until it becomes clear who the manager will be next season and what players will be on the pitch. It also underlines the belief of many City insiders that Shinawatra does not understand football.

City’s owner, it is understood, has written a letter to each member of the team conveying his feelings.

He has put all contract talks on hold and wants to start next season from scratch with a new manager and new players. All this has prompted deputy chairman John Wardle, who is distraught at the crisis, to apologise to the players for selling the club to Shinawatra.

But the damage has been done and many players will be delighted to jump ship and relaunch their careers at a club with a less volatile owner.

Skipper Richard Dunne is expected to join Newcastle for £5million. The poor treatment of Eriksson was the final straw for Dunne, City’s Player of the Season. Richards is also unhappy.

He signed a new four-year contract in February because he was sure the club were going in the right direction. But Manchester United and Chelsea have now been alerted.

Johnson is a target for Liverpool, and goalkeeper Hart is being pursued by Tottenham, who also covet Martin Petrov, City’s Bulgarian winger.

Sunderland have been eyeing Stephen Ireland and there would be no shortage of bids for Elano.

Morale was so low that City lost Sunday’s final league game 8-1 against Middlesbrough.

It also underlines the belief of many City insiders that Shinawatra does not understand football.

It takes an 'insider' to tell us that?

Nothing that man touches (outside of this corrupt little country) will turn out well (aguably not here either). He helps nobody but himself, is incapable of understanding the idea of mutual benefit and has an ego the size of a Frenchman (ok not any Frenchman's, but the little chap who tried to conquer the World.)

It will end in tears, hopefully his. Although I fear that he will drain the club dry before he leaves.

So now the Brits get a true look at the inner workings of this Extaordinary individual. If only he could get work permits for Thai players then he could easily control his latest venture - at the botom of the 4th division.

So just who will be replacing all these decent players?? The guy's off his head if he thinks he can replace an entire team with quality players better than the ones they already have !!!! Only at Man City..again !!

I would like to dedicate a well known football song to Dr. Shinawatra:

"You don't know what you're doing

You don't know what you're doing."

This is typical behaviour of the little man. Are we seeing an asset strip of the club, as Dr Evil no longer has any liquidity?

This is typical behaviour of the little man. Are we seeing an asset strip of the club, as Dr Evil no longer has any liquidity?

As he even paid for it yet - City supporters on Radio 5 were saying he has not even paid his lawyers for the transaction yet - it may all unravel.

It's great entertainment, but gotta spare a thought for those City fans. You can bash them all you want for accepting Thaksin, but this is touching on new levels of ridiculousness...

It will surely unravel! The British dont bow down to some snotty foriegn guy just because he has a few quid. Respect is gained not bought in the land of frowns (england)

It will surely unravel! The British dont bow down to some snotty foriegn guy just because he has a few quid. Respect is gained not bought in the land of frowns (england)

I just checked the Bangkok Post and Nation websites and not a word about this story....Wonder why?

Stoneman

It will surely unravel! The British dont bow down to some snotty foriegn guy just because he has a few quid. Respect is gained not bought in the land of frowns (england)

I just checked the Bangkok Post and Nation websites and not a word about this story....Wonder why?

Stoneman

No suprise is it.

So just who will be replacing all these decent players??

Could it be possible that he does not plan to replace the players but liquidate the club after selling the players one by one? Perhaps this way he collects a lot more than he paid for the club as a whole and he could be laughing all the way to the bank.

--

Maestro

Maybe he wanted publicity when living in the UK. Now he is safe in Thailand he can throw the club away again. Same he did with the 3 Thai players he took to UK. All publicity.

What a shame he did not buy ManU

On BBC Sport Thaksin has denied he's put the entire squad on the transfer list.

Also the club says that there is no truth in the rumour vice chairman Wardle apologised to the players for selling the club to Thaksin and are threatening to sue.

Thaksin says he's pleased with the progress made in the first season but no mention of Sven Goran Erikkson.

And City have qualified for next seasons UEFA Cup (through the Fair Play League )

Add that to Svens CV

And City have qualified for next seasons UEFA Cup (through the Fair Play League )

Add that to Svens CV

There is a Swedish saying (that svennis might use right now...) that goes something like this, "only a bad smith blame his tools for fail work"...

There is a Swedish saying (that svennis might use right now...) that goes something like this, "only a bad smith blame his tools for fail work"...

Or " A Bad Workman Will Only Blame His Tools "

You didn't see that Euro spot coming did you MrBJ I just read the Man City staff have just ripped the pitch up to be relayed.........Looks like you'll be using Huddersfields ground for the first tie

got this dam_n felling all along...and this after his 99 Tempel tour... I am a good man of character and dignity!

He said through gritted teeth

We'll take Richards off their hands if they want !!

You didn't see that Euro spot coming did you MrBJ I just read the Man City staff have just ripped the pitch up to be relayed.........Looks like you'll be using Huddersfields ground for the first tie

I did think that Dunney's red had <deleted> it up for us but i didn't know they had ripped the pitch up Looked fine (considering the end of the season) when Rangers played on it the other day.